Pac-10 football: Picks of the week

Four important games this weekend, three in the conference and the showdown in South Bend, which has major implications for USC’s title drive, Charlie Weis’ future and the Bowl Championship pairings.

If the Irish win, they have a decent chance to sneak into the BCS. And if they’re in, a runner-up somewhere (Big Ten? SEC? Big 12?) gets left out.

Heck, that squeezed-out runner-up could come from the Pac-10.

So the Duck Nation should be rooting for the Trojans to lay waste to Notre Dame’s BCS bid.

Look at it this way: Of Oregon beats USC, it has a mighty good shot to win the Pac-10 title/automatic bid. But if Oregon loses to the Trojans and finishes 10-2, it sure doesn’t want Notre Dame gobbling up a precious at-large bid.

Last week: 1-3Season: 16-19-2Five-star special: 2-4

All picks against the spread.

USC (minus-10) at NOTRE DAME: Trojans have won the past three by 20, 38 and 35 points, but I don’t expect a repeat. The Irish should move the ball and score points — probably not enough to win but enough to cover. Gimme: Notre Dame.

WASHINGTON (plus-6.5) at ARIZONA STATE: Given how badly ASU fared at home against Oregon State, and that it committed six turnovers last week at WSU, and that UW has Jake Locker, this seems like too many points. Gimme: Washington.

STANFORD (plus-5) at ARIZONA: Loved the Cardinal when the line opened at 6.5 and still think Stanford’s the smart bet at the current number. Feels like a last-possession-wins situation. Gimme: Stanford.

CAL (minus-3.5) at UCLA: Have to think Cal gets enough of its problems corrected to score 15-20 points (one TD and three FGs?), and that should be enough against the ninth-ranked offense in the league. Gimme: Cal.

Five-star special: Notre Dame has a very good offense and a very bad defense, a combination that should make for a close, high-scoring game. I’ll take the Irish and would not be surprised if they (finally) wake up the echoes.